TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – James Madison got the ball rolling for a comeback with three runs in the top of the ninth inning, but it wasn't enough as they fell, 12-7, in the 2023 season opener to Florida State at Dick Howser Stadium in non-conference baseball action on Friday evening.
Redshirt junior
Donovan Burke started for the Dukes, going an inning and two-thirds and striking out one while giving up five runs. Sophomore
Fenwick Trimble led the JMU offense, going 2-for-3 with a run scored, two doubles and three RBI's.
Preseason All-American Wyatt Crowell earned the win on the mound for the Seminoles.
How It Happened
First Inning
The Dukes got on the board first, scoring on a double play after graduate
Jack Cone doubled to lead off the game and moved to third on a single from redshirt junior
Mason Dunaway.
Florida State got the run back and then two more in the bottom half of the inning. They loaded the bases with one down and then scored two runs on wild pitches sandwiched between a sacrifice fly for a 3-1 lead.
Second Inning
Florida State added a pair of runs on a single up the middle and then a triple to center field to increase its lead to 5-1.
Third Inning
Two more runs were added to the scoreboard for the home team, scoring a third run on a wild pitch before a sacrifice fly brought home the seventh FSU run.
Sixth Inning
The Dukes were able to cut into the deficit, beginning with Dunaway earning a walk and then redshirt senior
Kyle Novak getting hit by a pitch. Trimble then took a pitch to right field for a double, scoring Dunaway but having Novak get tagged out on the way to the plate. Freshman
Aidan McDonald came up next as a pinch hitter and laced the fifth pitch of his collegiate career up the middle to score Trimble. After graduate
Jaylon Lee doubled to advance McDonald to third, freshman
Jack Cannizzaro stepped up and used an infield single to score McDonald and make the score 7-4.
Eighth Inning
Nander De Sedas began the inning with a single and then moved to third base the next at bat as Colton Vincent laced a double. DeAmez Ross then scored both with a single to give the hosts a five-run lead again at 9-4. After a pair of walks to load the bases, Jordan Carrion singled in two runs and a throwing error allowed a third run to score to make it 12-4 Florida State.
Ninth Inning
JMU put up three runs in the top of the ninth, all with two outs. After sophomore
Coleman Calabrese drew a walk and advanced to second, Dunaway singled him in with a single. Novak then drew a walk and both runners came around to cross the plate on Trimble's two-run double to make it 12-7.
Game Notes
Up Next
The Dukes and Seminoles face off in game two on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. at Dick Howser Stadium. The game will be broadcasted on the ACC Network.